Brandon entered the Ice Bandits’ dressing room and knew he was at home. The noise, the yelling, the smart remarks, all of it was a part of him and his being a defenseman for the Ice Bandits. He felt more at home here than he did in his own apartment, alone with his thoughts and memories. Here, in the spacious room with all the stalls, the equipment, and the big Ice Bandits logo on the rug, was Brandon’s favorite place to be. All this, and his loony teammates too. Kyle MacDonald, the team captain, was a good-looking dude from Nova Scotia with long dark hair, sea green eyes, and an easy smile, showing the best set of dental implants in the NHL. He got the most fan mail of all the Ice Bandits, most of it from young ladies who asked him out, or asked him for other things. “You see my new toy?” Vyto Snarskis entered the noisy locker room. “New phone. My beautiful wife Daina bought it for me.” “Where did she get the money? You’re the guy with the long-term contract.” “Do not be sarcastic, Mike.
